The football offside rule, explained

The rule in one sentence

A player is in an offside position if any part of the head, body or feet is in the opponents' half and closer to the opponents' goal line than both the ball and the second-last opponent. The goalkeeper is usually the last opponent, so the second-last opponent is often the last outfield defender.

Offside position is not an offence

A player in an offside position is penalised only if, at the moment a teammate plays or touches the ball, they then become involved in active play. Examples are interfering with play, interfering with an opponent or gaining an advantage from the position.

When you cannot be offside

• In your own half of the pitch.
• Directly from a goal kick, a throw-in or a corner kick.
• When level with the second-last opponent or the last two opponents.
• When the ball is played backwards to you from a position where you are not ahead of it.

What counts as part of the body

The head, body and feet count. The hands and arms, including a goalkeeper's, do not. A player cannot be offside because their outstretched arm is ahead of the line.

Video review

Where video assistant referees are used, offside is one of the decisions they can review for goals. Some competitions use semi-automated offside technology to speed the check, but the rule is unchanged.

Why the rule exists

Offside stops attackers waiting beside the goal for a pass. It keeps teams playing through the pitch, and it is why defenders step up together to catch forwards offside. See the formation diagrams for how teams set up around the defensive line.